¡BRAVO!

Age Range: 2 - 5

Guy and Moreno (Siesta, 2005, etc.) continue this family’s familiar adventures with an imaginative outdoor romp. As the siblings investigate the world outside their doorstep, they gather various materials from their backyard. Sticks found by the tree, an umbrella propped against the porch and the lonely horn on a bicycle all are collected in the children’s little red wagon. The seemingly disconnected items reveal a unified package when the youngsters create their own boisterous band. Brevity breeds consistency in this bilingual text, which has a catchy refrain that leads the children from one find to the next: “Por allá. Over there. / Aquí, allá. Here, there. / Por todas partes. / Everywhere." The narrative builds as Spanish and English interchangeably move the day along. “¿Entonces? What next? / ¡Mira! Look! / Amigos. Friends.” Soft colors suggest the passing of time; the rising and setting sun provide a hazy glow, and the warm hues permeate each clean double-page spread. The loving relatives maintain a supportive role in this successful celebration of innovative play. (Picture book. 2-5)